Reddick’s Absence Raises Eyebrows
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are facing a growing list of preseason problems—and one of the loudest is silence from Haason Reddick. After joining the Bucs in a much-hyped move from the Jets, Reddick is now noticeably absent from the team’s OTAs. While head coach Todd Bowles downplayed the issue, saying, “I’m sure one of these days we’ll see him,” fans and analysts aren’t so sure. Is it just a delay—or a red flag?
Injuries and Uncertainty Cloud the Roster
Bowles revealed that seven players are currently missing from workouts, with five of them “nicked up.” But with Reddick’s status unclear and several others dealing with minor injuries, the Buccaneers’ momentum heading into the new season is shaky at best.
Baker Mayfield Under Siege
After a 10-7 season, Mayfield’s stats were solid—but he also endured 40 sacks. The real concern? His blind side. Analysts like Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton are calling for a change, urging the Bucs to replace Ben Bredeson with free agent Dalton Risner, who didn’t allow a single sack last season. With Bredeson responsible for 34 pressures last year, the call for better protection is growing louder.
Is Risner the Answer?
While Risner isn’t perfect—his run-blocking struggles are well known—his pass protection could be the exact wall Mayfield needs to avoid another beatdown behind a leaky line. But time is running out. If Tampa Bay wants to give their QB a real shot at a deep postseason run, they must act fast.
Missing Pieces or Deeper Problems?
The offseason was supposed to be a fresh start. Instead, Tampa Bay is scrambling to address injuries, absence, and offensive line instability. As fans wait to see if Reddick shows up and Risner signs on, one thing is clear: If the Bucs want to make a leap, they’ll need to protect their franchise QB like their season depends on it—because it does.